NFL, MLB, basketball, etc.

Hello! Here's the first post for this weekend. First is a Christian article about Seahawks fullback Leonard Weaver. Here's a quote from Weaver about his faith:

Weaver attributes faith in Christ as the key factor in his development, as a person, a husband and father and as a professional football player. He says the game has provided him life lessons that dovetail with his devotion.

“Football teaches a lot about faith, especially with me,” he said in the Seahawks’ locker room following a defeat in Atlanta. “There are hardships and hard times, but, if you continue to keep your head up and keep your confidence, good things will happen later on.”

Here's the article: http://www.bpsports.net/bpsports.asp?ID=5745. Also, a link to former Seahawk fullback Mack Strong (a Christian)'s blog, The Strong Report, as mentioned in this article: http://www.seahawks.com/News/BlogsAndColumns.aspx?blogId=330.

Here's another Christian article about the strong Christians on the Packers team. Here's a quote from defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila:

But with all of his accomplishments, Gbaja-Biamila doesn't want any of the credit.

"By God's grace, I've had great success on the football field. I've set sack records for one of the most storied franchises in all of sports - the Green Bay Packers - and I plan to do more in my football career as long as God allows me the opportunity," Gbaja-Biamila said. "As much as I enjoy football and the success, I know that those things won't last forever. There is one thing that will, however, and that's my relationship with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This by far is my greatest victory."

Here's a link to the Freedom House Ministries that Gbaja-Biamila is involved with in Green Bay: http://www.freedomhouseministries.org/contact.html.

Here's the article: http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/306408.aspx.

Next, an article about Rockies outfielder Willie Taveras, a Christian, and how he's preparing for the upcoming season: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080118&content_id=2350867&vkey=news_col&fext=.jsp&c_id=col.

Here's an article about the Packers and how the area churches blend or separate the team and church. Here's a couple of quotes from local clergy with different opinions on the topic, before the Packers/Giants game last Sunday:

The Rev. Dan Dainsberg of Faith Chapel, a Christian missionary alliance church, knows some of his parishioners will certainly privately pray for a Packers victory. But he won't.

"There are people on the Giants who love God and people on the Packers who love God and to try to pit one against the other, I wouldn't do that," the pastor said. "As big of a game as this is and excited as we are, it is small in comparison to life and death matters." ...

Certainly, he [The Rev. John Becker of Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church] said, some of his parishioners will be praying for a win Sunday. Children in the church's school offered a special petition last week during a Mass, praying for a Packers victory.

Privately, the priest admitted, he would, too.

"I am very strong supporter of the Packers. I will say, 'God's will be done,' but please may it be that the Packers win," he said, laughing.

Here's the article: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AnTL4iBYual6hzYhZQUQ8lsdsLYF?slug=ap-packers-prayers&prov=ap&type=lgns.

Also, a blog post on the Reds signing pitcher Jeremy Affeldt, a Christian, as a free agent from the Rockies: http://blue-collarbaseball.blogspot.com/2008/01/reds-sign-pitcher-affeldt.html.

Here's an article on Packers defensive end Aaron Kampman, a Christian, and how he's worked hard to become a star: http://cbs.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10587154/rss.

Next, an blog post on Rick Hendrick, the NASCAR owner of Hendrick Motor Sports, who bought a special car for an injured soldier: http://christiansportsblog.blogspot.com/2008/01/hendrick-helps-iraq-vet.html.

Here's an article about Cowboys tight end Jason Witten, a Christian, being named as a finalist for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. The winner will be announced before kickoff on Super Bowl Sunday. The other finalists are the Dolphins Jason Taylor (also a Christian), Steelers Hines Ward, and Chiefs Brian Waters. Here's a quote from Witten about being nominated for the award:

"What I do on the field is important and my job, but I know that playing for the Dallas Cowboys and in the National Football League has afforded me the unique opportunity to contribute off the field, to make a difference in the lives of those in need," Witten said.

"To be a finalist is a great honor, and I am just proud to be mentioned in the same breath as Mr. Payton."

Here's the article: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/011908dnspowitten.3bce895d.html (originally found at: http://apps.facebook.com/sportsuperfan/teams/news/5).

Also, some articles and video clips about IUPUI (Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis) men's basketball head coach Ron Hunter, a Christian, and his helping to support the Christian organization Samaritan's Feet (http://www.samaritansfeet.org/). The organization collects shoes and money for kids without shoes throughout the world, especially Africa. Hunter went barefoot during IUPUI's game against Oakland last Thursday. These articles are from before the game, and I'll have more from after the game on a later post. Here's a quote from the first article:

With the help of Samaritan's Feet, a Christian-based group in Charlotte, N.C., Hunter's goal is to raise 40,000 pairs of new shoes during February, which is Black History Month.

"Dr. Martin Luther King had the courage and the faith to make a difference, and I hope that's what I'm about," Hunter said. "I want to use my passion to make a difference. I want people to feel it."

Hunter belongs to the same church in Indianapolis as Colts head coach Tony Dungy. Here's that article: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080121/SPORTS06/801210351/1004/RSS02.

The next article tells some more about what Hunter was doing. There were 30,000 shoes donated by the day before the game. Here's that article: http://cbs.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/story/10594951/rss.

The last article about Hunter's project mainly just contains a good video segment from the local news about it: http://www.wishtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=7764687&Call=Email&Format=HTML.

Here's an article about Cardinals 1st baseman Albert Pujols, a Christian, addressing false reports that he had used drugs. Here's a quote from him:

Asked if he felt any need to prove himself all over again in light of the report, Pujols didn't hesitate.

"I don't have to prove myself," he said. "Since 2001, I've been proving myself with the numbers. I've been proving myself every year. How much better can I get? Only God knows how much better [I can] get. But do I need to cheat in this game to get better? This is nothing for me.

"Baseball is just a hobby, man. God has blessed me. And I fear God too much for me to do a stupid thing. I fear him. If I do some stupid things to help me out, to hit .400 or three-something or hit 30 home runs, he's going to take that away from me. So why not be the natural guy like I've been since I was in the Minor Leagues? To cheat in this game, that's not right."

Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080121&content_id=2352353&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb.

Next, an article about new Royals manager Trey Hillman, a Christian. He was hired by Royals general manager Dayton Moore, also a Christian. Here's a quote from him about becoming the Royals manager after spending the last five years managing in Japan:

"I kind of look at timing as a blessing from above," says Hillman, a deeply religious Christian. "Nobody on this earth is smart enough to know when the perfect timing is for anything."

Here's the article: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al/royals/2008-01-21-hillman-royals_N.htm?csp=34.

Lastly for now, a good post from the Saved in Sports blog about Giants quarterback Eli Manning and the charity work that he's done: http://savedinsports.wordpress.com/2008/01/22/patriots-giants-who-will-make-history-eli-manning/#comment-118.